Upwardly acting sectional door and combined hinge and roller spindle supports therefor



June 30,11959 s b 2,892,494 1 UPW L CTING SECTIONAL D AND COMBINED HIN A ROLLER NDLE SUPPORTS THEREFOR Filed t. 4, 1956 IN V EN TOR.

Zaw/ 1. 3/707 United States Earl L. Stroup, Hartford City, Ind, assignor to Overhead Door Corporation, Hartford City, Ind.

Application October 4, 1956, Serial No. 613,909

10 Claims. (Cl. 160-201) This invention relates to an upwardly acting door or like assembly having a plurality of horizontally articulated sections and combined hinges and track engaging roller spindles therefor.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an upward-1y acting door assembly embodying a plurality of articulated sections in association with a door frame and a track including upwardly and rearwardly inclined upright sections with combined hinges and track engaging roller supports including hearing elements adjustable to adapt for variable spacing of the track from the door frame against which the door closes.

Second, to provide a combined hinge and roller support having these advantages which may be quickly adjusted to support the roller spindle in predetermined positions relative to the body of the hinge.

Third, to provide a combined hinge and roller spindle support in which the spindle bearing is resiliently mounted or cushioned to reduce noise in operation of the door.

Fourth, to provide a combined hinge and spindle support having these various advantages which is simple and economical in its parts and at the same time capable of withstanding operating stresses without distortion.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section of a door assembly embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section on a line corresponding to line 22 of Fig. 1 and partially broken away and in section on a line 22 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of parts shown in Fig. 3 of the combined hinge and spindle bearing member holder adjusted to permit the insertion or removal of the block like track engaging roller spindle bearing memher which is shown in reversed position as compared to Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the combined hinge and spindle bearing member holder.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the block like spindle bearing member in one embodiment thereof formed of resilient material.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention in an upwardly acting door assembly including a door frame designated generally by the numeral 1, a door comp-rising a plurality of horizontally articulated sections 2, tracks 3 of channel section which comprise rearwardly inclined upright portions 4 and storage portions designated generally by the numeral 5 adapted to receive and support the door when in opened position. These parts in their assembled relation are old in the art.

atent Q It is also old to mount the spindles 6 of the track engaging rollers 7 on the door sections in differently spaced relation relative to the door sections so that when the door is in fully closed position it is thrust against the jamb. The Johnson Patent 1,820,195, August 25, 1931 illustrates such an assembly broadly considered. It will be noted that in that patent each spindle bracket is of a different length. The applicant is also familiar with the Moler Patent 2,624,065, January 6, 1953 in which an adjustable bracket is provided for the top track engaging roller.

The combined hinge and roller spindle support of the applicants invention provides means for hingedly connecting the sections and for supporting the roller spindle in proper relation thereto which can be quickly and easily adjusted to particular requirements as well as having other advantages.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the hinging comprises the leaf type of hinge members 8 and 9 having interengaging knuckles 10 and 11 respectively pivotal-1y connected by the pintle 12. These hinge members are secured to adjacent door sections as by means of bolts 13. The spindle bearing member holder 14 is of inwardly facing channel section, the side members being parallel so that the block like spindle bearing member 15 may be reversibly positioned therein. The bearing member 15 is provided with a spindle bearing 16 disposed transversely thereof to receive the roller spindle 6. The member 15 is desirably formed of slightly resilient rubber or some synthetic rubber or like resilient material which serves as a sound deadening means.

Upwardly acting doors of this type are extensively used in garages and the modern trend is to incorporate the garages in houses or to position closely adjacent to the houses and the eliminating of noise in the operation of the door is an important factor.

The rollers 7 are desirably of nylon or like plastic or nonmetallic material or provided with nonmetallic tires. A door assembly having these features makes little noise in operation.

The bearings 16 are disposed off-center endwise of the bearing member so that it can be reversed in the holder as is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The bearing holder member 14 is provided with flanges 17 on one of its walls which serve as reinforcing members therefor and are swingably engaged with the pintle 12 of the hinge so that the holder member can be swung to the open position shown in Fig. 4 or to erected or secured position shown inthe other figures.

The holder member is provided with a flange 18 seated upon and secured to the hinge member 9 as by means of the screw 19. The flange 18 is provided with lugs 20 at its ends which engage the edges of the hinge member 9.

In the embodiment illustrated the bearing member is retained within the holder member by means of the inturned flanges 21 on the ends of the web portion 22 of the holder and the inturned lugs 23 on the side of the holder provided with the flange 18. With this arrangement when the holder member is in closed position the bearing member is effectively retained in the holder.

As illustrated in Fig. 6, the bearing member may be formed with a substantial amount of stock at each side of its bearing so that it may be cut to position the bearing as in the top fixture. In the top position both hinge members are bolted to the side of the door section so that they function as an attaching bracket rather than as a hinge.

With this arrangement the combined hinge bearing holder member may be used to connect the several door sections and also as a spindle supporting bracket for the top section as has been described. It is only necessary to properly position the bearing members. within the holders to meet the varying requirements as to spacing of the roller spindles from the door. This avoids the necessity of providing sets made up of different sizes and care in installing the hinges. The hinges may all be installed and the bearing members inserted and the holders secured. This greatly facilitates the installing or the erecting of the door and the proper positioning of the spindle bearings to result in the door closing against the frame. With this arrangement the spindle bearing members formed of slightly resilient or non-metallic material are effectively supported merely by inserting them in the holders and securing the holders in their erected position.

The structure is advantageous when the bearing members are formed of material other than resilient material but with the parts arranged as disclosed the holder members may have substantial resilience and at the same time are effectively supported in their proper relation to other parts.

I have illustrated a highly practical embodiment of my invention. I have not attempted to illustrate other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt the invention as may be desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A combined hinge and roller spindle support for slidable closures comprising coacting hinge members and connecting pintle therefor, a track engaging roller spindle bearing member holder swingably engaged with said pintle and having an elongated socket therein open at its inner end, said spindle bearing holder member being detachably secured to one of said hinge members in which position its socket is closed, and an elongated spindle bearing member reversibly positionable within said socket and having a roller spindle bearing positioned therein oil-center relative to the length thereof so that the spindle bearing may be positioned within said holder member in one of at least two different positions relative to the plane of the hinge.

2. A combined hinge and roller spindle support for slidable closures comprising coacting hinge members and connecting pintle therefor, a track engaging roller spindle bearing member holder swingably engaged with said pintle and having an elongated socket therein open at its inner end, said spindle bearing holder member being detachably secured to one of said hinge members in which position its socket is closed, and an elongated spindle bearing member of resilient material disposed within said socket.

3, A combined hinge and roller spindle support comprising coacting hinge members provided with interlapping knuckles and connecting pintle therefor, a spindle bearing member holder of channel section facing one of the hinge members and having parallel side members, one side member having laterally projecting flanges on its end edges disposed at the outer sides of the knuckles of said hinge members and swingably engaged with the said pintle, the other side member being provided with a laterally projecting flange .on its inner edge seated upon and secured to one of the hinge members, said flange having lugs on its ends engaging the side edges of said hinge member on which the flange is seated, a block-like spindle bearing member of resilient material seated within said spindle bearing member holder and having a spindle bearing therein positioned oil-center endwise thereof so that the spindle hearing may be selectively positioned within said spindle bearing member holder by the selective positioning of said spindle bearing member therein, said spindle bearing member holder having inwardly projecting flanges on the web thereof and the holder side member having the laterally projecting flange on its inner end also having lugs adjacent its inner end retainingly engaging said spindle bearing member and enac g ith said flanges on the holder member web to retain said spindle bearing member in said holder.

4. A combined hinge and roller spindle support comprising coacting hinge members provided with interlapping knuckles and connecting pintle therefor, a spindle bearing member holder of channel section facing one of the hinge members and having parallel side members, one side member having laterally projecting flanges on its end edges disposed at the outer sides of the knuckles of said hinge members and swingably engaged with the said pintle, the other side members being provided with a laterally projecting flange on its inner edge seated upon and secured to one of the hinge members, a block-like spindle bearing member seated within said spindle bearing member holder and having a spindle bearing therein positioned off-center endwise thereof so that the spindle bearing may be selectively positioned within said spindle bearing member holder by the selective positioning of said spindle bearing member therein.

5. A combined hinge and roller spindle support comprising coacting hinge members and connecting pintle therefor, a spindle bearing member holder, a channel section facing inwardly relative to the hinge having parallel side members, one of its side members being swingably engaged with the said pintle and the other side member being releasably secured to one of the hinge members, an elongated block like spindle bearing member seated within said spindle bearing member holder and having a spindle bearing therein positioned off-center endwise thereof so that the spindle bearing may be selectively positioned within said Spindle bearing member holder by the selective positioning of said spindle bearing member therein, the side members of said spindle bearing member holder having projections therein retainingly engaging said spindle bearing member in said holder as positioned therein.

6. A combined hinge and roller spindle support comprising coacting hinge members and connecting pintle therefor, a spindle bearing member holder, a channel section facing inwardly relative to the hinge having parallel side members, one of its side members being swingably engaged with the said pintle and the other side member being releasably secured to one of the hinge members, an elongated block like spindle bearing member seated within said spindle bearing member holder and having a spindle bearing therein positioned ofi-center endwise thereof so that the spindle hearing may be selectively positioned Within said spindle bearing member holder by the selective positioning of said spindle bearing member therein.

7. The combination in an upwardly acting door assembly including a door frame, a door including a plurality of sections, tracks including sections which are inwardly inclined relative to the door frame, and track engaging rollers provided with spindles, of a combined door section hinge and roller support comprising coacting leaf hinge members and a connecting pintle therefor, an elongated spindle bearing member holder supportedly mounted on said hinge to project laterally therefrom and having an elongated socket therein having parallel side walls, and an elongated block-like spindle bearing member of resilient material reversibly and supportedly fitting Within said socket of said holder member and having a spindle bearing therein disposed oil center relative to the length of the bearing member and substantlally spaced from both end edges thereof, the bearing member being reversibly positionable within said bearing member socket so that the position of the spindle hearing may be var ably spaced in the same plane relative to the hinge, the spindle bearing being substantially spaced from the end edges of the holder member.

.8. The combination in an upwardly acting door assembly including a door frame, a door including a plurality of sections, tracks including sections Which are inwardly inclined relative to the door frame, and track engaging rollers provided with spindles, of a combined door section hinge and roller support comprising enacting leaf hinge members and a connecting pintle therefor, an elongated spindle bearing member holder supportedly mounted on said hinge to project laterally therefrom and having an elongated socket therein having parallel side walls, and an elongated block-like spindle bearing member of resilient material supportedly fitting within said socket of said holder member and having a spindle bearing therein substantially spaced from the end edges of the holder member.

9. A combined hinge and roller support comprising coacting leaf hinge members and a connecting pintle therefor, an elongated spindle bearing member holder supportedly mounted on said hinge to project therefrom and having an elongated socket therein having parallel side walls, and an elongated block like spindle bearing member of resilient material reversibly and supportedly fitting said socket of said holder member and having a spindle bearing therein disposed ofi center relative to the length of the bearing member and substantially spaced from both end edges thereof, the bearing member being reversibly positionable within said bearing member socket so that the position of the spindle bearing may be variably spaced relative to the hinge, the spindle bearing being substantially spaced from the end edges of the holder member,

10. A combinedhinge and roller support for slidable closures comprising coacting hinge members and a connecting pintle therefor, 21 track engaging roller spindle bearing holder mounted on said hinge to project outwardly therefrom and having an elongated socket therein having parallel side walls, and an elongated bearing member of resilient material supportedly disposed in said socket and having a spindle bearing therein disposed in substantially spaced relation to both end edges of said bearing member and in relatively close relation to the side walls of the holder member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,525,309 Norberg Oct. 10, 1950 2,624,065 Moler June 6, 1953 2,645,807 McKee et a1 July 21, 1953 2,738,240 Parsons Mar. 13, 1956 

